Means for preventing rails from spreading.



N0; 849,946. I I PATENTED APR. 9(1907.

' F. L. VOLZ.

, MEANS FOR PREVENTING RAILS FROM SPRBADING.-

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26 1906.

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' MIIIHIIHI FREDERICK LIVOLZ, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR.

- UNITED srnrns PATENT ()FFICE.

OF ONE-HALF TO THOMAS WRIGl'lT, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

Specification of 'Iietters Patent.

Patented April 9, 19m.

Application filed July 26.19435; Serial No. 327,931.

1 To all whmit it Hui/y concern:

Be it known that LFnEDnRroK L. Vol.2, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the county of Baltimore city and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Preventing Rails from Spreading, of which the following is a specification.-

The object of this invention is to provide a novel device. designed to be appliedto rails \of railway-tracks for" preventing the spreading of the rails under actual conditions of service.

The invention resides particularly in peculiar details ofconstruction which will'appear more full as the description proceeds.

For a ll-understanding. of the inventionand the merits thereof, andalso to acquire a carried by the tie-bar.

knowledge of the details of construction of the' means for eflecting the result, reference is tobe had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a lanview showing the invention applied. tional view. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the rail-clamping members Fig. 4 is aside elevation showing a modified form of-theclam ing members which cooperate with the rail; Fig. 5 is a detail erspective view offoneof the clamping mem ers shown in Fig. 4. Fig.- 6. is a plan view showing a modified form of truss-bars cooperating with the tie-bar.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views ofthe drawings by the same a reference characters.

Specifically describing the exact construction illustrated in the drawings, vthe numeral 1 designates the ties of a railroad-track and the numeral 2 the ordinary type of rails comprising a track disposed on said ties 1. The means comprising the'invention con- I sists, essentially, of a transverse tie-bar 3,

the o iposite end portions of which are threa ed, as shown at 3*, and pass through openings 4 in'fliil-clamping members 5, which are connected together by means of the bar 3, and which are caused topositively and firmly engage the rails connected by said bar. Two

of the members 5 are arranged upon each of the threaded portions 3" of the bar 3, andsaid ig. 2 is alongitudinal sec-h members 5 have upper engaging flanges 6 to which'said :member cooperates. The members 5 are-held inengagement with opposite edge portions .of the base of each rail by means of nuts 7, whichiare, screwed upon the threaded portions s -of the bar 3"and which are adapted topositively'force the members 5 into engagement'with the rails.

In addition to the-firm connection established by means of the bar 3 it is designed to reinforce the rails 2 against-spreading movement and especially on curves in the track by means of U sha ed truss-bars 8, the side portions of whicfi thereof to ties 1 on opposite sides of the bar 3. The intermediate portions 8 of the bars 8 are attached to the bar 3 between the ends of the latter by means of a transverse fastening 8. It will be obvious that the mounting of the truss-bars 8 with respect to the bars 3 is such that. thelatter is firmly reinforced strain incident to the actual use of the de vice. "The truss-bars 8 virtually constitute lateral brace, members extending I from the bar 3 and attached thereto intermediate of the ends of the same.

convenient,fso as to takeup any play be tween these parts.

The invention is very simple, effective for to ap ly or remove whenever necessary.

served that a slightly-different construction of clamping members is em loyed, though the said members are, genera 1y speaking, of substantially the same construction as those heretofore set forth. However, the clamping members (indicated 20 in Figsi-4 and 5) inagainst lateral'strain aswell as longitudinal It is contemplated, to secure anicetyof adjustment of the parts, to use a split ring 10-for rings 10 being interlocked 7 or between the nuts 7 and the rings 10, as

- Re erring to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be ob-- engage overthe basal portion of the rail with p are secured at the ends 9', which passes through-the bar 3 and through I such intermediate portions of the truss-bars If desired, horsethe purposes desired, and is extremely easy roo as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, are each formed with a single extension 21 projecting from grooves 22.

stead of having the spaced extensions projecting therefrom to engage beneath the rails,

the lower portion thereof, and provided in the upper edges of the same are longitudinal The extensions 21 abut with the tie-bar '3 and reinforce the latter very eflectively so far as its connection with the clamping members 20 is concerned." Fur thermore, the clamping members 20'1are caused to very firmly hold the rails in'position upon .the ties, obviatin likelihood of said rails being moved lateral y under stress or strain. In the construction just described it is to be observed that the members 21 do not engage directly with the rails, but engage tl1 etie-bar3. T

Fig. 6 illustrates a modified form ofthe truss-bars used to connect the tie-bar 3 with the ties 1 of the road-bed. In this instance the truss-bars are'indicatedat23, and each of said bars is straight. The bars 23 cross each other intermediate of the ends of the latter and are provided near the end portions with openings 24, by which they maybe A vertical pivfirmly attached to the ties 1. otal fastening 25, attaches the bars 23 together intermediate of the ends thereof, and said pivotal fastening is also adapted to pass vertically through the tie-bar 3 in order to r secure the truss-bars thereto to accomplishthe same result as accomplished in the con -struction shown most clearly in Fig. 1- of the drawings.

The tie-bars 23 as arranged and constructed in Fig. 6 of the drawings, however, are very advantageous, in that they are adapted for a pivotal or scissors-like movement to accommodate themselves for attachment to ties of the road-bed separated at greater or less distances, as may hap en under actual conditions of service. 0 course the tie-bar 3 may be forged or otherwise formed in the actual manufacture thereof, according to the desires thereof.

Having thus described the-invention, What i is claimed as new is I 1. .In means of the class described, the combination ofrail'road-ties, rails thereon, a tie-bar connecting the rails and arranged parallel to theties, clamping members carried by the tie-bar and engaging the rails,' and lateral braces connecting thet1e-bar intermediate of "its ends with the ties adjacent thereto.

2. In means of the class described, the combination of spaced rails, a tie-bar forconnecting the same, clamping members engaging opposite sides- 0f each railand having openings therein'through which the tie-bar passes, opposite end portionsof the tie-bar being threaded, nuts secured u on the threaded portions of thetie-bar an engaging the clamping membersto' hold the same in engagement with the rails, ringsinterlocked .with the threaded portionsof the tie-bar,

members extending from opposite sides ofv I the tie bar and having the outer extremitiesthere of secured to adjacent tieson the track, and means connecting the intermediate portions of said members with the intermediate portion of the tie-bar. I

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature 'in'presence of two witnesses.

VVitnessesE LOUIS KAI-IN,. HARRY S. SCIIAPIRO. 

